Paradox is a
circumstance that, at first, seems to offer no hint of a satisfactory
outcome. It is that uncomfortable space “between a rock and
a hard place”. It is also an intrinsic part of most “real-world”
situations. Because paradox is uncomfortable, people (and organizations)
often dispense with it too quickly…failing to see the reality
that the paradox represents. As a result, they make decisions and
take actions that only appear to represent progress.

Effective
organizations learn how to recognize and live constructively with
the paradoxes that comprise today’s complex world. They aren’t
trapped by an “either/or” mindset that leads to uncertainty
and conflict or one dimensional decisions. In these organizations,
“and” is the operative approach.